This story is produced and presented by Gold Coast Health Plan

Most people are born with two kidneys, each about the size of a computer mouse. However, their function is significantly more important to your well-being than the operation of your computer.

During National Kidney Month, the importance of our kidneys is emphasized. Kidneys, which filter your blood every 30 minutes, remove waste, toxins and excess fluid. When functioning properly, they help control blood pressure, stimulate production of red blood cells, keep your bones healthy and regulate life-essential blood chemicals.

When they aren’t functioning properly, the result can be chronic kidney disease, a gradual loss of kidney function in which excess fluid and waste from blood remains in your body, leading to heart disease, stroke and other potential health problems.

An estimated 30 million American adults suffer from CKD, according to the Centers for Disease Control, and kidney disease is the ninth leading cause of death in the United States. In 2006, the CDC established the Chronic Kidney Disease Initiative, which seeks to prevent and control risk factors for CKD, to promote early diagnosis, and to improve outcomes and quality of life for those living with CKD.

During National Kidney Month in March, the CDC, the National Kidney Foundation and local agencies, including Gold Coast Health Plan, Ventura County’s administrative agency for Medi-Cal services, are promoting the importance of comprehensive strategies for kidney health. In particular, they are focusing on awareness of what CKD is, who has it and how to address it.

Many aren’t aware

The awareness component is critical, since the CDC notes that 96 percent of those with kidney damage or mildly reduced kidney function are not aware of having chronic kidney disease.

“People with CKD may not feel ill or notice any symptoms,” according to the CDC in its 2017 report on chronic kidney disease. “The only way to find out for sure if you have CKD is through specific blood and urine tests.” These tests, such as the Blood Urea Nitrogen blood test, include measurement of both the creatinine level in the blood and protein in the urine.

If left unaddressed, possible health consequences from CKD include anemia or a low number of red blood cells; increased occurrence of infections; low calcium levels; high potassium levels; and high phosphorus levels in the blood; loss of appetite; and depression or lower quality of life.

Women and others at risk

CKD affects approximately 195 million women worldwide and it is currently the eighth leading cause of death in women, causing 600,000 deaths of women each year, reports the National Kidney Foundation. “Women are more often affected by certain kinds of kidney diseases such as lupus nephritis (a kidney disease caused by an autoimmune disease) and pyelonephritis (kidney infection),” according to the foundation.

Kidney disease is also linked to pregnancy. Women with CKD are at increased risk for negative outcomes in pregnancy, both for the mother and the baby; in turn, pregnancy-related complications can increase the risk of kidney disease.

Chronic kidney disease is also more common in non-Hispanic blacks than in non-Hispanic whites, as well as in 15 percent of Hispanics, according to CDC estimates.

The same is true, though, for all adults with diabetes, high blood pressure, or both, as well as those with heart disease, obesity and a family history of chronic kidney disease.

And while CKD has varying levels of seriousness, the CDC reports, “It usually gets worse over time though treatment has been shown to slow progression. If left untreated, CKD can progress to kidney failure and early cardiovascular disease. When the kidneys stop working, dialysis or kidney transplant is needed for survival.”

This more severe type of kidney failure --- end-stage renal disease --- is 64 percent more likely to develop in men than in women, three times more likely to develop in African Americans than in whites, and 35 percent more likely to develop in Hispanics than in non-Hispanics

In 2014, 118,000 people in the United States started treatment for ESRD, and 662,000 were living on chronic dialysis or with a kidney transplant. Treating Medicare beneficiaries with chronic kidney disease cost the United States $61 billion in 2014, while treating people with ESRD cost $33 billion.

Taking the right steps

Not all patients with kidney disease progress to kidney failure, but knowing the warning signs of chronic kidney disease is important, according to the National Kidney Foundation. Those signs include high blood pressure; blood and/or protein in the urine; difficult, painful or more frequent urination, particularly at night; puffiness around the eyes; swelling of hands and feet; a glomerular filtration rate less than 60; and a BUN test outside the normal range.

“People with diabetes or high blood pressure who are diagnosed with CKD should talk to their doctor about treating these conditions to keep their blood sugar and blood pressure under control and lower their risk for kidney failure,” advises the CDC.

Once detected, CKD may be addressed through lifestyle changes, including healthier diet choices, and can often be treated with medications. These approaches and treatments may keep CKD from getting worse and may prevent additional health problems such as heart disease.

To help prevent CKD and lower your risk for kidney failure, control your blood sugar and blood pressure, get tested yearly, make recommended lifestyle changes, especially in your diet, take medicine as needed, and see your health care team regularly.

GCHP: Local assistance

Gold Coast Health Plan is doing its part in helping its members combat chronic kidney disease, notably through two services to transport members to appointments:

NEMT

Non-Emergency Medical Transportation is provided for GCHP members who cannot sit in a regular vehicle due to a medical condition, and who need to be transported in a specialized vehicle, such as a gurney van. NEMT is covered by GCHP.

NMT

Non-Medical Transportation assists members who have no way to get to scheduled appointments at any medical clinic or provider, dentist, eye doctor or vision center, pharmacy, equipment provider, behavioral therapy visit, or approved health education program.

GCHP members who require these services should contact the Plan’s contracted provider, Ventura Transit System, at least 48 hours in advance at 1-855-628-7433 to arrange for transportation. Members should be prepared to show their GCHP member ID card. For more information, visit goldcoasthealthplan.org/providers/resources.aspx#faq-netrans.

Members of the editorial and news staff of the USA Today Network were not involved in the creation of this content.